Netherlands river cruise a history-lover's dream

Working windmills in small Dutch town of Kinderdijk. Windmills drain water from fields into the canals.

Photograph by: Phil Reimer
, for Canwest News Service

For years I have suggested that travelling on big cruise ships is for everyone if you pick the right ship. There are ships for families, younger adults, older adults and a multitude of other categories.

When it comes to river cruising, that doesn't apply. The smaller ships don't cater to everyone. I have just stepped off Avalon Waterways' newly christened river cruise ship, the Avalon Felicity, and it's definitely an adult ship.

Felicity carries just 139 passengers on three decks. I found my fellow passengers to be widely travelled and interesting.

There was time for relaxed conversation and some fun, as we took in the historical sites that were part of our cruise route.

A daily diary of my experiences on Avalon's seven-day tulip cruise through the Netherlands and Belgium and an overview of the ship can be found at the Ports and Bows blog at portsandbows.com.The first entry was posted March 28.

With few exceptions, the ground tours were included in the price, the guides were knowledgeable and, because you usually docked in the heart of the cities you visited, it was possible to walk to many of the sights, if buses weren't available.

Some of the stops included Arnhem, Antwerp, Ghent, Middelburg, Veere, Rotterdam and Volendam/Edam. The trip began and ended in Amsterdam.

Writers John and Sandra Nowlan and I had all been to Amsterdam and had visited the Van Gogh museum and the Rijksmuseum before, so this time, we all wanted to visit the wartime home of Anne Frank.

You can't appreciate what this teenager and her family and friends coped with for over two years in those small, hidden-away rooms until you see them for yourself. Not a word was spoken during our tour, and we noticed many visitors were overcome with emotion.

The Belgian city of Bruges is a must-visit for any traveller to Europe.

This medieval town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Michelangelo's Madonna with Child statue at the Church of Our Lady is the main attraction for many tourists.

I recommend taking the canal cruise while you're there and, if you still have the time and energy, climbing the 366 steps of The Belfry.

If that's too much, then find a great coffee house with steamed milk and melted Belgian chocolate. As you might guess, I skipped The Belfry.

Finally, it's great being a Canadian in these two countries.

Just about every guide commented how it was the Canadians who liberated their country during the war, and all talked about how they're still taught in school about the part Canada played in their freedom.

Things to know:

-Avalon does not let you board until 4 p.m. on your first day, which is late for those of us who fly the Atlantic and arrive in Amsterdam in the morning.

-One of the best shopping streets on this trip is Meir in Antwerp.

-While you're there, visit the Cathedral of Our Lady, the Rubens House and Museum, as well as the Diamond district.

-Check both directions for bicycles when crossing any road in Belgium and the

Netherlands; their paths adjoin the road.

-Currency in Belgium and Netherlands is the euro.

-Find a genuine pannekoeken house in Amsterdam and make sure you use stroop on your pancakes.

-Try to stay away from tours that start in morning or afternoon rush hour. That's when you notice how narrow the streets are.

Visit portsandbows.comfor daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an e-mail newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Phil can be contacted directly at

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